Honda Previews Assen World Supersport

Honda Previews Assen World Supersport

© 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

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From a press release issued by Honda Racing:

VERMEULEN AND CBR600RR CHASE ASSEN GLORY

Honda’s Chris Vermeulen is in position to secure the World Supersport championship title ­ should events run his way in Sunday’s ninth round of the series at Assen in Holland.

Vermeulen heads nearest challenger Jurgen van den Goorbergh by 37 points but is well aware that the experienced Dutchman will be seeking victory and 25 points on home soil.

“Assen is a special place for me too,” revealed Vermeulen. “My grandfather’s Dutch, my Ten Kate team is based about 30 miles down the road and it’s where I made my World Supersport debut.

“It’s a tricky one for me this weekend. I’ve got everything I need to win the race ­ especially after some good testing at Assen this year ­ but I’ve got to make sure I don’t make mistakes and must leave on Sunday night with a similar points advantage.”

Vermeulen is also looking to secure a fifth win of the year for the new CBR600RR Honda. The machine has won in Australia, Italy, Germany and Great Britain. Suzuki took victory in Spain and Great Britain (2) while Kawasaki won the San Marino round and Yamaha ran out victorious in Japan.

Vermeulen’s Ten Kate Honda team-mate Karl Muggeridge is as determined as he has ever been to lift a second World Supersport race win ­ his last coming at Brands Hatch in 2000, also on a Ten Kate Honda.

“We’re in very good shape,” Muggeridge admitted. “Gerrit ten Kate has put a lot of effort into machine development since the last round at Brands Hatch. I’ve done a lot of miles around Assen this year and I want to win on Sunday
for the team.”

Broc Parkes and Christophe Cogan have taken their CBR600RRs to 11th and 12th places respectively but, sadly, the pair will be missing from the Assen action due to their BKM team¹s withdrawal from the championship, for financial reasons.

Klaffi Honda’s Sebastien Charpentier has been a revelation since his introduction to the championship in round four. The Frenchman, third in the last round at Brands Hatch, lies 13th in the championship and is looking to Assen for further success.

“I love the Assen circuit and while all of the attention will be on the Ten Kate Honda team and perhaps Jurgen van den Goorbergh I’d like to think I can steal a result!” said Charpentier.

Charpentier is joined in the Klaffi Honda squad by Austrian Robert Ulm who currently holds 15th place in the championship.

Ulm commented: “I’m really looking forward to the Assen event. I really like the track and it will be good to race again after a five-week break. I
managed to contest two Supermoto races in that break so I’ve had some time on a machine.”

The Van Zon Honda pairing of Iain MacPherson and Werner Daemen also arrive at Assen with improved, Ten Kate-prepared motors and Scotsman MacPherson is looking for a least a repeat of his runner-up finish in last year’s race.

“We’ve got the new motors and I’m over the injuries I suffered in a Magny-Cours test crash a couple of weeks ago,” explained MacPherson. “I’ve
got more than enough experience around Assen to win so I’ll be going all out.”

Daemen said: “We’ve had some good track time at Assen this year so I’m going there in confident mood for what I hope will be my best finish of the year so far.”

The Assen World Supersport action gets under way on Friday with a 45-minute free practice followed by a 45-minute qualifying session in the afternoon. That schedule is repeated on Saturday and Sunday’s 16-lap race starts at 1.20pm.


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